Will County Medication Take Back Program

This program protects Will County water resources, while reducing the materials going to local landfills. Each year thousands of tons of pharmaceuticals and personal care products enter the waste stream. Several United States Geological Survey studies over the past 7 years have found that many pharmaceuticals are surviving water treatment facilities and making their way into drinking water. The very medications that help people may be a concern to aquatic life.

The EPA has asked everyone to cease "flushing" unwanted medications down the drain. The federal government is encouraging people to locate pharmaceutical take-back programs for disposal of unwanted medications.

Will County, in cooperation with the Illinois EPA and local pharmacies, began the area’s first permanent Medication Take-Back Program in 2007. This is a pilot program, that if successful, may be expanded.

Will County shall continue to offer One-Day Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events which have always accepted medications. Please share this information with friends, neighbors and family members to protect our fishing, recreational and drinking water resources.

Drop-Off Instructions

Bring only residentially generated medication items. No medications from businesses or doctor’s offices can be taken.

Use a permanent marker to black out your name or personal information on the label.

Take medications to pharmacy or collection site during drop-off operation hours ONLY.

Please follow directions at the drop-off site. Only give medications to the pharmacy or drop-off site personnel.

This is not a share or reuse opportunity. All medications received will be destroyed in the most environmentally sound manner possible.

Items Accepted (Expired or Unwanted)

Items NOT Accepted

Prescription Medications

DEA Controlled Substances*:

Over-the-Counter Medications

Narcotic Medications

Medicated Ointments

Illegal Drugs

Medicated Shampoos

Bio-Hazardous Materials

Liquids Containing Medications

Sharps / Needles (see bottom of page)

Prescription Inhalers

Radioactive Materials

Over-the-Counter Inhalers

Other Household Wastes

Glass Thermometers (contain mercury)

Medical devices containing mercury

(blood pressure units, barometers, etc.)

*The Federal Drug Enforcement Agency defines DEA Controlled Substances under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act. They are medications categorized by "schedules" based on their potential for abuse or addition. The schedules cover opiates, hallucinogens and prescriptions containing narcotics or amphetamines.

What to do with medications that are not accepted?

Will County, in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, will host special collection events that include DEA controlled substances from time-to-time. Some law enforcement agencies accept DEA controlled substances. Please contact your local police department to learn if they offer this valuable home safety service.

Protect Personal Information when disposing prescriptions

The label of a prescription bottle shows personal data, such as your name, your doctor’s name, the type of medication, the number of refills allowed and the date of the current refill. In the wrong hands, this data could be harmful to you or a drug abuser. Therefore it is always important for you to black out your personal data on the label with a permanent black marker before disposing of the product in any manner.

Accidental Misuse

If you accidentally repeat a dosage, take an expired medication or otherwise misuse your medication, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

Needles/Sharps are NOT accepted:

Needles, or sharps as they are also called, that are used in the home for self-injection (such as insulin shots) are currently permissible to discard with regular garbage using a rigid container (such as a milk jug, coffee container or laundry bottle) sealed with duct tape.

Residents may also use a bio-hazard container and pay for bio-hazard disposal service through several companies. Occasionally a doctor's office, hospital or other medical provider will offer disposal service to their clients.

Three communities include service to take sharps from residents for biohazard disposal: Joliet, Plainfield, Shorewood.
Call 800-449-7587

A national sharp drop-off directory is being worked on:

Sharps generated by hospitals, medical offices, traveling nursing services, etc. are required to be disposed as bio-waste through a commercial bio-hazard disposal service.